I hear daily about auto glass technicians who aren’t addressing the issue of recalibrating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with their customers. I find this very distressing. Is the problem that they don’t know what ADAS is or what it does? Do techs choose to ignore the issue because recalibration is too difficult to deal with? The statement I’ve frequently heard, “I’ve never had a problem with…,” is always true until it’s not. Here are the facts.
- Whether the ADAS malfunctions, trips a fault code or not, the vehicle must be recalibrated after the windshield is replaced to assure proper operation of the vehicle. After an installation, the ADAS could very well not create an obvious problem. In some cases, if the camera, LIDAR or laser units are not disconnected, it won’t create a fault or malfunction, but systems may still be off slightly enough where warnings are late getting to the driver. ADAS also may not work according to manufacturer’s specifications. This puts the liability directly on the glass company or technician.
- The customer themselves may not like or use the ADAS on a regular basis, so they may not know the system is malfunctioning until it is too late. We know that the ADAS can turn itself off if the conditions for operation is not present or obscured. This can be unmarked highways, obstructed views of lane marking, etc. We know that some of the warning signals are annoying and bothersome, so customers, if they have the choice, can turn off the system and drive the vehicle without the system’s help. However, it doesn’t mean you can disable the system as a repairer or “render it inoperative.”
- We do not know all the ramifications of ADAS yet. Each manufacturer knows their own systems but not their competitors’. Some dealer groups don’t even know the recalibration requirements of the carmakers they represent. Some systems will create a fault detected by a simple scan and others will not, depending on the way the repair was completed. Some recalibrations are successful with aftermarket glass and others are not.
So what do we know for sure? We know that the issue must always be addressed before installation and the safety technology must be recalibrated according to the vehicle manufacturers’ specifications after the installation. Whether you personally do the recalibration, or you contract the dealership to complete it, is your choice.
ADAS systems are ever changing and vehicles may mostly become self-calibrating someday. Stay tuned. However, today you are legally liable for any problems stemming with ADAS after an installation, period. You must arrange for recalibration, and it must be addressed with the customer.
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Great article Bob, the phrase I never had a problem before will be too late when it becomes one because of the potential for serious injury or death.. This is true with or without ADAS.
What if customer doesn’t go to dealership for a recap after directed to do so with signed papers of details of proper install and recal
We always do them at the dealership and have the dealer recalibrate. Is it less convienient for the customer? Yes. But Im not willing to bet my vusiness that a customer will follow up with their dealer to get this done. I want to know that it was done properly when we finished the install.
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What about if the dealership refuses to recalibrate because I did not use OEM glass. I have had this happen with our local GMC dealership. I used a Pilkington brand glass and they refused to recalibrate. I had to buy a GMC branded glass, then they would do the recalibration.
Regarding the term “render inoperative” ….. our position is that WE don’t render the camera system inoperative …. the vehicle does that. That’s not our problem. Nor is it our problem that the foreign-owned TPA-monster wants to only reimburse our COST on a recalibration with no markup, shuttle fees, admin fees, etc. We refuse to share our private cost documents with them on anything and they’ve admitted that we’re not contractually obligated to do so (our 57-year-old glass shop has been one of their contracted affiliate shops since 2009).
How do we do the recalibration ourselves? Do we need to purchase a certain program or computer or what…? Where do we find them and the cost of the machines or whatever we are needing…?
DO I NEED RECALIBRATION: How do I find out if my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate with ADAS needs to be recalibrated after a new OEM windshield has been installed? The dealer says a test drive is all that is necessary but it does not seem correct in my opinion.
I know the rearview mirror assembly has at least one camera and maybe other sensors which I am unaware of? This assembly was removed and then replaced on the new OEM windshield.